Depression and anxiety are not related to nummular headache

Abstract

Nummular headache (NH) is a clinical picture characterized by head pain that is exclusively felt in a round, elliptical, or oval area of the head. Although there is evidence supporting an organic origin for NH, some authors question this origin, hypothesizing a potential role for psychological factors. Our aims were to investigate the differences in anxiety and depression between NH patients and healthy controls, and to analyse if these conditions were related to pain parameters in NH patients. The Beck depression inventory (BDI-II) and the trait anxiety scale from state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) were administered to 26 patients with NH and 34 comparable matched controls. No significant interactions between group (NH patients, controls) in either depression (U = 391; p = 0.443) or anxiety levels (U = 336; p = 0.113) were found. Both groups showed similar scores in the BDI-II (patients: 3.9 ± 2.9; controls: 3.46 ± 3.15) and STAI (patients: 17.23 ± 10.3; controls: 13.5 ± 7.9). Moreover, neither depression nor anxiety showed association with mean pain intensity, pain intensity in exacerbations, size of pain area, or pain frequency. Our study demonstrated that self-reported depression and anxiety were not related to the presence of NH. Further, longitudinal studies are still needed to elucidate the role of mood state in the course of NH.

Nummular headache: Peripheral or central? One case with reappearance of nummular headache after focal scalp was removed, and literature review

“…Except for the hypotheses of pathogenesis above, NH patients are reported with psychiatric disturbances and NH is suggested to have a psychiatric etiology (30). Ferna´ndez-de-las-Pen˜as et al tested some patients and indicated that depression and anxiety were not related to the presence of NH (19). Some patients are wakened by the pain from sleep (31).…”

Unusual Headache Syndromes

“…The characteristics of clinical observations suggest a non‐psychogenic origin. Fernández‐de‐las‐Peñas and colleagues have shown that NH is not associated with either depression or anxiety. A few patients have reported mild head trauma previous to the onset of NH .…”

Nummular Headache: 2 Cases With Good Beta Blocker Responses and a Narrative Review

“…42 In addition, anxiety as well as depression scale is not significantly different between NH patients and healthy volunteers. 43 These evidences indicate that NH has little to do with psychological disorders. 42,43 Autonomic function in NH has never been studied.…”

“…43 These evidences indicate that NH has little to do with psychological disorders. 42,43 Autonomic function in NH has never been studied. However, some NH patients reported concurrent headache and autonomic symptoms, including tearing, conjunctival injection, itching eye, and rhinorrhea.…”